Home Affairs services suspended

“We will not entertain an application for a smart ID unless you are a matriculant. Applications for passports, except for people falling into the categories who are permitted to travel, are suspended. Marriage services, including the solemnization and registration of marriages have been included, with immediate effect.” These were the words of Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who has announced the suspension of applications for ID cards, passports, and marriage services to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The minister stated that visits to home affairs to collect new ID cards should be restricted, unless invited via SMS to do so. Another intervention to protect home affairs officials is to change the way deaths and births are registered.

“We are proposing that all births and deaths are registered at the health facilities where they took place,” Motsoaledi said. The suspension of applications for ID cards, passports, and marriage services follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the Level 3 lockdown will be extended. All 20 land ports of entry are also closed until 15 February for entry and departure until the rate of transmission has fallen sufficiently to warrant relaxing restrictions.